Justice Jean Dalton this morning sentenced Nielsen to three years in jail, with a parole release date in August.

She said there was no evidence Mr Ward was incapacitated by illness at the time of his death and she said Nielsen had a financial interest in the death as he was the sole beneficiary of Mr Ward's will.

Justice Dalton also pointed to lies Nielsen told police as proof of his lack of remorse.

Voluntary euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke says the penalty is disappointing and will not act as a deterrent.

"These trials go through relentless monotony through the law courts of Australia because politicians haven't got the courage to change the legislation," he said.

"We knew [Mr Ward] was going to take this course, and unfortunately someone who got involved in that act of assisting is now paying what I think is a pretty savage price.

"I just think it's a tragedy when people get caught up in laws like this, when they try to help people they care about to achieve a peaceful death and find themselves having to pay any price, let alone a price of some period of time in jail which is what's happened to Merin Nielsen."